Phase II Begins

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 13, 2005

The outpouring from the community towards our guests from Louisiana has been awe-inspiring, however, after a conversation with Julie Martineau, president of the Montgomery County United Way, I am compelled to issue this warning and ask for the community's continued support.

By Donna Wick

Though the clouds have parted from the storming wrath, winds and rain of Hurricane Katrina, the wrenching war of the elements continue with those affected.

The outpouring from the community towards our guests from Louisiana has been awe-inspiring, however, after a conversation with Julie Martineau, president of the Montgomery County United Way, I am compelled to issue this warning and ask for the community's continued support.

Evacuees, no doubt, have found themselves in the loving embrace of our compassionate and giving community. Though their worlds have been shattered and splintered, they have been buoyed in the outreach extended towards them at every turn. But now, as many residents return to their every day lives, the need of Katrina evacuees heightens to a different level of need.

Certainly, we have pulled together to take care of the immediate and pressing needs. We have fed, sheltered and clothed the thousands who have found solace in Montgomery County. But as Martineau agreed, the 'rubber is just beginning to hit the road.'

As we enter phase two of our outreach, our giving must become more pointed. Clothing that sufficed for a family in waiting at a nearby hotel has now moved towards a need for clothing that is job and interview appropriate. Children need nice school clothes and school supplies. Men and women need business attire suitable for interviewing and business settings from shoes to suits.

Demands for transportation, gas money, childcare, appropriate clothing, personal grooming items all must be met even before a single interview is secured by those scouring for employment.

The coming need for Katrina evacuees is great and the many social service organizations are asking for your continued support.

FEMA funds will expire Sept. 22. Hopefully, FEMA will extend benefits for another two weeks. If this happens, it will surely be a blessing to many. If it does not, then what happens to the many who have taken shelter in hotels and apartments?

And for the corporations who have been providing hotels rooms for their employees, they confide they cannot do so forever. What happens then?

The choice will be for evacuees to once again seek Red Cross shelter or benefit from donations paying for hotel rooms.

This means that for all those service organizations who claim they have enough water bottles, clothing, personal grooming items and food for now, may not be so prepared in the coming weeks.

I suggested to Martineau that in the coming two weeks, evacuees may begin to experience true panic.

They will be forced to face the harsh reality of their lives and to make monumental decisions, compartmentalizing their shock, anger and sheer sadness of their lives.

They will need to find employment, secure transportation, establish housing, and convenient childcare. The call is for us to continue in our support by supporting those specific organizations that can assist them in these objectives.

Martineau's response was that this scenario won't play out in the coming weeks - "it is happening now."

The request now to our ever-generous neighbors is for clothing that is professional, something you would wear to an interview.

Gas cards are needed for mobility. Cash is needed to continue providing the vast resources to evacuees that our community may not even know exists yet to the victims of Katrina, the need for these resources is dire.

The outpouring from the community thus far has been nothing less than astounding. And the response from the United Way, Interfaith, the American Red Cross and the many service organizations has been swift and organized.

In an immediate response these groups came together, established a point of authority, the MCUW and put forces in motion to meet the needs and demands of displaced residents from our neighboring state. This seamless effort was the result of four years of planning. Montgomery County was ready.

In the continuing salvo of our response, the call is for our community's continued support in specific and measured ways.

Hotels need to communicate with one another on what their needs are and to share the bounty of their independent donations.

Churches are urged to communicate with each other on what each is doing and how altogether the needs of evacuees can be met.

Restaurants are sought to continue serving meals though several have already unselfishly answered this call.

To those that wish to give, plain and simple, "cash is king" and your donations are eagerly accepted by the United Way, Interfaith, American Red Cross, Montgomery County Emergency Assistance, and Montgomery County Food Bank. For directives on what to do, where to go, how to serve and what else to give, call the United Way at (936) 760-4179 (Conroe) or (281) 292-4155 (The Woodlands) or go online at www.mcuw.org.